Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis and cysticercosis in a rural settlement, São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

Background: The goal of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of Toxocara spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Taenia solium metacestode infection and determine some of the associated risk factors for people living in the Dona Carmen settlement, Pontal of Paranapanema, Sã o Paulo, Brazil. Methods: Serum samples from 194 subjects were tested and participants answered a questionnaire. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system based on Toxocara spp. excretory-secretory antigens obtained from the cultured second-stage larvae of Toxocara canis or vesicular fluid (VF) antigen from Taenia crassiceps metacestode was used to detect anti-Toxocara spp. IgG and IgE and anti-T. solium metacestode, respectively. For cysticercosis, the reactive ELISA samples were assayed by Western blotting using 18 kDa and 14 kDa proteins purified from VF. For T. gondii-specific IgG and IgM antibodies, anti-SAG-1, GRA-1, and GRA-7 epitope specificity was determined by ELISA. Results: Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies were found in 102/194 individuals (52.6%) with increased infections in females (P 5 0.02) and those with #US$300 monthly income (P 5 0.01). Positive IgM antibodies were detected in 21/194 individuals (10.8%). Antibodies specific to Toxocara spp. were found in 28/194 subjects (14.4%). All the individuals with Toxocara spp. also had T. gondii-specific IgG antibodies. Taenia solium metacestode antibodies were detected in 11 subjects (5.7%), but none were reactive based on Western blotting. Conclusion: In spite of environmental, educational, and socioeconomic factors favoring parasite infection, the seropositivity rates of T. gondii, Toxocara spp., and T. solium metacestode-specific IgG antibodies are similar to the rates found in studies conducted in different populations in Brazil.

Toxoplasma gondii infection: seroprevalence and associated risk factors among primary schoolchildren in Lagos City, Southern Nigeria

“…In recent studies, these rates have been reported to be 70% in Indonesia, 81% in Ethiopia, 52% in Brazil, 10.8% in the U.S., and 13.2% in Korea (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) . Although these studies targeted different populations and used different immunological assays, the widespread prevalence of this infection is indisputable.…”

Toxoplasma gondii Infection: Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors among Primary School Children in the Capital Area of the Republic of the Marshall Islands

“…Serological surveys of T. gondii infection have been conducted in several regions; however, seroprevalence rates vary between investigations. The most recent studies revealed the seropositivity rate for T. gondii to be 52.6z in the rural regions of Brazil, 81.4z in Ethiopia among women of child-bearing age, 70z among the inhabitants of Jakarta in Indonesia, 10.8z in the United States according to a nationwide survey, and 13.2z among the residents of Jeju island, Korea (15)(16)(17)(18)(19). Although these studies differed with respect to the target populations or immunological assays employed, the wide range of T. gondii seroprevalence rates indicates that its transmission is influenced by environmental exposures, human behaviors, sanitary conditions, or even local climate variations (20).…”

A case-series of Toxoplasmosis in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: still a concern for endemic countries

“…In Brazil, as in Latin America and some regions in Central Europe the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis is considered high with rates ranging from 50 to 80% over the country [8][9][10]. These rates are of interest, since the majority of our HSCT patients has a positive T. gondii serology pre-transplant, which puts them at risk for toxoplasmosis reactivation after transplant.…”